What is liquid linoleum
Not every person planning a repair knows what liquid linoleum is. This type of flooring appeared on the construction market recently and began to rapidly gain popularity, due to its original design, high performance and durability.
What is liquid linoleum
The polyurethane-based bulk floor is called “liquid linoleum” due to the outward resemblance to traditional roll material. But to the touch, the surface is more like ceramic tile, hard and smooth.
Initially, this coating was intended for decoration of industrial premises. Its developers set themselves the task of creating an indelible floor that will be easily and quickly mounted and at the same time have a presentable appearance. With a thickness of only 1.5 mm, liquid linoleum can last at least 30 years.
Over time, the new coating was adopted by interior designers. So the original design options appeared:
- 3D drawings;
- patterns;
- photographs
- natural materials and other decorative elements.
Liquid linoleum can be used in any of the following rooms:
- office;
- bathroom;
- living room;
- kitchen;
- garage;
- medical institutions;
- industrial premises.
Application technology
The material is a seamless polymer coating based on epoxy, polyurethane and cement-acrylic components. The installation process consists of the following steps:
- Surface alignment. For these purposes, use a single-component polymer composition, which allows you to quickly achieve a perfectly smooth base. The rough floor is cleaned, primed and poured with a solution. If the concrete screed needs to be dried for about a month, then in this case the finished coating is obtained in a week.
- Padding. The product is applied in 2 layers with complete drying every two days.
- Putty leveling. If roughness remains on the floor after the primer, they are cleaned and additionally treated with a special composition based on epoxy resin.
- Filling and processing of the basis. The process of preparing the mixture depends on the type of liquid linoleum. The composition covers the floor and passes through it with a special roller with spikes to remove air bubbles. During operation, they move in special shoes with thin needles on the sole.
- Dressing. Depending on the chosen design option, images and additional elements are laid on the surface.
- Bay of the finish layer. At the end of the work, the floor is covered with a transparent composition. The application technology is similar to filling the base.
Work is carried out quickly, so certain skills are required. Sluggish activity will lead to partial hardening of the polyurethane coating, as a result of which it will be impossible to correct defects.
You can enter the room with a floor covered with liquid linoleum only after the composition has completely solidified. It is impossible to speed up the process by exposure to hot air: this will lead to cracking of the polymer.
Advantages and disadvantages of using
Compared to some other types of flooring, liquid linoleum has significant advantages:
- resistance to abrasion;
- seamlessness;
- variety of drawings;
- water tightness;
- fire safety;
- impact resistance;
- resistance to aggressive substances;
- non-toxicity;
- simplicity in leaving.
The disadvantages of the material are the complexity of self-assembly and a relatively high cost.
Subject to the rules of installation and operation, liquid linoleum will last for more than a dozen years, without losing a presentable appearance and excellent quality.
